Aqaba to Lavrio - Log #017# - Israel (Tel Aviv-Yafo)

This sign is written in the three main languages spoken in Israel, Hebrew, Russian (Russian is spoken by at least 750000 ethnic Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet) and Arabic (20% of the Israeli citizens are Arabs). It is worth to mention that even the Israelis are loosely divided into the Ashkenazi group of Jews (of European descent) and the Sephardim or Mizradi (of northern African or Babylonian descent)

Swimming pool with no chemicals only sea water.

Neve Tzedek one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Tel Aviv.

South Tel Aviv is considered the dodgy part of Tel Aviv.

Ethiopian Graffitti.
Petrol is 8 shekels per ltr (1,5 euro)

Jaffa or Yafo is the old part of Tel Aviv.

Me and Marcus. Marcus has a Greek girlfriend and he has recently moved in Athens.

The Yafo Clock tower.

Aqaba to Lavrio - Log #016# - Israel (Eilat)

Aqaba is just 5 Km from Eilat.

Entering the term "Land of Israel" The term is a direct translation of the Hebrew phrase Eretz Yisrael, which is found in the Hebrew Bible. This term "Eretz Israel" was a holy term, vague as far as the exact boundaries of the territories are concerned but clearly defining ownership.

When the Israelis captured Eilat they realised that they had no flag to rise. So they improvided a flag that was called The Ink Flag. Below in the famous picture of the The Ink Flag.

Aqaba from Eilat.

Eilat is a very popular holiday resort.

Haredim graffitti.

The Biblical car.

Eilat like all Israel has a large Ethiopian community who are called the Beta Ethiopian community of Israel or Ethiopian Jews. The Israeli government mounted rescue operations, Operation Moses (1984) and Operation Solomon (1991), for their migration when civil war and famine threatened populations within Ethiopia.

They are considered Halachically Jews meaning their Jewishness is approved by the Rabbinate, in contrast with lots of Russian Jews who are still in limbo, although they migrated to Israel years ago and their children represent a large number of the IDF (Israeli Defence Force) soldiers.

The immigration to the land of Israel is dubbed Aliyah (ascent).

The First Aliyah (also The Farmers' Aliyah) started between 1881–82 and lasted until 1903. After that  folowed a wave of other Aliyahs with the latest being the Ethiopian Aliyah and the Russian Aliyah.

Piraeus to Aqaba - Log #015# - Jordan (Aqaba)

Eilat (Israel) from Aqaba.

Boat-Caffe.

The Ottoman Fortress that features in the movie Laurence of Arabia. Ottoman governor was expecting an offensive from the sea and all the canons were facing south. Laurence and the Arab tribes crossed the dessert and waged and offesinve from the North capturing the fortress.

Eilat (Israel) and Aqaba (Jordan) are sharing the Port in the Gulf of Aqaba. There was a rocket attack 1 month ago. Hamas rebels launched rockets form the Mountain of Sina into Eilat. The rockets missed the target and killed 2 men in Jordanian Aqaba.

Gulf of Aqaba is famous for its scuba diving activities.

Daily Distance: 250 Km

Total Distance: 4005 Km

Pros: Underwater Coral Reef

Cons: null

Soundtrack: Wilco, War on War

Piraeus to Aqaba - Log #014# - Jordan (Wadi Rum)

Wadi Rum is the desert that Laurence of Arabia loved most. It is here where he organised the Arab tribes and prepared for the attack in Aqaba.

Wadi Rum a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock is also known as The Valley of the Moon.

Daily Distance: 150 Km

Total Distance: 3800 Km

Pros: Wadi Rum

Cons: null

Soundtrack: Neil Young, Harvest Moon